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Join us for a Contra Dance at Woodlawn Elementary School in Lawrence, Kansas.Doors open 5:45
Potluck begins 6:00
Lesson 7:00
Dance begins 7:30
Bring a covered dish of your choice to fuel our evening. We’ll share our best home cooking and curated pre-prepared meal components to offer a wide variety of options! Outlets will be available for crock pots and warmers. We’ll provide utensils, napkins and plates.
Open to both beginners and newcomers without experience. Those new to contra should attend the free lesson at 6:45. All ages welcome!
Our dances are social, inclusive, fun, and beginner friendly. No experience? No partner? No problem!
We strongly recommend that newcomers and beginners arrive at 6:45 for the lesson. The lesson is fun and an invaluable experience - you will enjoy the rest of the dance much more after the lesson.
All dances are taught and prompted, and feature live music.
You’ll hear our callers use gender free terms like Larks and Robins. Larks dance on the left side of a pair of dancers; Robins dance on the right side.
Contra dancing is fun and vigorous! Wear comfortable clothes and clean shoes. Be aware of damaging grit, especially in boots, please, no black marking heels.
Flexible admission rates for in-person dances:
Adult admission pay what you can between $8 to $15+ to help support our dances.
Adults just listening (not dancing) $5
Students $5
Children under 16 $free
Don’t miss another dance opportunity! Sign up on our email list to get twice a month reminders of all upcoming events.
On our website, check out our tips for beginners, complete with videos of lessons.
Band: The Lost Keys
The Lost Keys are an old-time family string band from Lawrence, KS. Internationally recognized traditional musicians Tricia Spencer (fiddle) and Howard Rains (fiddle/guitar) are joined by their sons Isaiah Sibi and Orion Spencer-Speirer and daughter Ru Yother on fiddle/guitar, banjo-uke, and bass respectively. They play driving midwestern and southern style music that is sure to get your feet moving on the dance floor. They’ve all been playing traditional music since they were knee high to a grasshopper and their music runs at least five generations deep. The music they play is meant for one thing and one thing only: dancing. So form those lines or make those squares and get ready for a good time. Tricia and Howard also tour, perform, and record as Spencer & Rains and more info can be found on their website SpencerandRains.com
Caller: LISA HARRIS-FRYDMAN
Lisa is from Lawrence, KS, and has been calling contra and square dances for over 30 years, primarily in Kansas and Missouri. She has called dances and taught workshops in several other cities across the U.S. She calls regularly at the Walnut Valley Festival at Winfield, KS, and the Prairie Festival at the Land Institute in Salina, KS.
Lisa is known for easy-to-learn, zesty dances and her melodious calling. She especially likes to call dances that are fun for both experienced dancers and newcomers.
Lisa was active in organizing dances and dance weekends as a board member of the Lawrence Barndance Association and the Uptown Hoedown dance series in Lawrence. She has taught calling workshops in Austin, TX, Newton, KS, and Springfield, MO.
Lisa plays guitar and banjo and is currently learning fiddle. Her love of music is evident in her calling.
Photography:
Our photographer, of Denis Nicholson Photography, may be on site at this dance. He will post photos after the event and will have prints available through his web site. These are fun reminders of a magical evening and make great gifts and holiday surprises for the dancer in your life!
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Event venue
Woodlawn Elementary, 508 Elm St,Lawrence,KS,United States
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